VMware Data Recovery, file level restores

VMware Data Recovery (VDR) backup solution has support for file level restore, or FLR as VMware calls it in context of VDR product. Even though FLR is still experimental feature it hasn’t failed me yet. FLR is currently available only for Windows XP, Vista, 2003 and 2008 virtual machines, there is no word about Linux support but it is most likely coming.

To use FLR functionality you need command line FLR client on Windows VM protected by VDR appliance. FLR client is just a single executable vdrFileRestore.exe which is available at same download page you got VDR appliance from.

If you are not familiar with VDR appliance let me explain it shortly. After that I’ll show how FLR works.

VMware Data Recovery is a pre-installed Linux appliance which is imported into your vSphere cluster. VDR has GUI which will integrate with help of plugin onto vSphere client. VDR backup works by creating restore points for each of your VM virtual disks you wish to backup. Restore point is kind of full copy of virtual machine state at that current point in time when backup was created. VDR utilizes de-duplication on backup storage and it is very efficient to save backup storage space. VDR can use CIFS share or virtual disk as backup medium, that makes restoring data very quick. There is no support for tape backups.

FLR client works by mounting restore point into Windows VM as read only disk, from that disk you can restore invidual files or whole directories by copying them with standard Windows explorer.

To start using FRL download and copy vdrFileRestore.exe into your Windows VM, place it into some directory and make sure it is on PATH environment.

Make sure you have restore points available for you VM and execute vdrFileRestore.exe -a “IP or DNS name of your VDR” on Windows command line. FLR client uses unique BIOS id to identify which restore points it should make available for mounting for each VM.

FLR client will query which restore point in time you wish to mount

After you selected restore point FLR client will do some of its magic and backup of your Windows drives will show up in your VM as additional drives, FLR client will tell you which drive backup is available at which drive letter.

After you copied files you need, type “unmount” and press enter. This will close restore point mounts and FLR client will exit.